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Council moves ahead with controversial development plan in Northwest El Paso near mountain

Elida S. Perez, El Paso Times
Published 12:11 p.m. MT June 26, 2018

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A park ranger with Texas Parks and Wildlife provides safety tips in the wake of the death of a 21-year-old man who was fatally injured after he fell while hiking off trail.
Kristopher Rivera / El Paso Times

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Open space advocates protest Tuesday in front of City Hall ahead of a council vote on a financing plan for the development of desert land in Northwest El Paso used for hiking and mountain biking.(Photo11: Elida S. Perez/El Paso Times)Buy Photo

City officials said some open space projects within the zone could include preservation of arroyos, as well as the maintenance of existing trails and the development of new trails and trailheads to ensure sufficient public access to Franklin Mountain State Park, according to city documents.

The city wants to sell the land for the development to a private entity.

Funding generated by the tax increment reinvestment zone also will go toward public infrastructure, including stormwater drainage, and to encourage private development that will generate additional tax revenue for local taxing jurisdictions, such as school districts and El Paso County.

Taxes generated from the reinvestment zone are expected to add up to about $1.3 billion over the 36-year term. About $332 million is expected to go toward the city. After paying for the infrastructure projects, the city is expected to have a gain of about $222 million.

The financing plan will help fund about $109 million in public improvements related to streets, water and sewers, parks and open spaces, as well as economic development grants through the city’s 33 percent contribution of property tax revenues generated within the site.

The remaining 66 percent of property tax revenues will go toward the general fund over the life of the TIRZ.

The city also approved a financing plan for Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone No. 10. The City Council recently approved expanding the zone from 48 acres to about 4,000 acres to allow for the expansion of a large-scale mixed-use development.

The project and financing plan outlines funding for about $89 million in public improvements related to streets, water and sewer, parks, open spaces and economic development grants.

City officials anticipate that property tax revenues generated within the zone will add up to about $959 million over the 31-year term. About $230 million of that is expected to go toward the city. After paying for the infrastructure projects, the city is expected to receive about $141 million.

Svarzbein and Annello also voted against the financing plan for TIRZ 10.

The zone is adjacent to TIRZ 12, which open space advocates are trying to protect.

They have submitted a petition with more than 2,000 signatures of people seeking an ordinance to preserve the site.

The City Clerk’s Office is in the process of verifying the signatures.

If the petition is validated, the City Council will vote whether to introduce the ordinance.

Audrey Caudillo, 6, lets her arrow fly as she learns the bow and arrow from Lord Rauol of the Society for Creative Anachronism Saturday during Poppy Fest at the El Paso Museum of Archaeology. MARK LAMBIE / EL PASO TIMES